2G ghost back to haunt Marans; CBI grills Dayanidhi, again

Chennai, Sep 14: Former Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother (Sun TV owner), Kalanidhi Maran once again faced the CBI grilling over the 2G spectrum scam. While the investigating agency on Monday inquired Kalanidhi, Dayanidhi faced the grilling on Wednesday, Sep 14.

After facing nation-wide criticism, the CBI on Sep 8 took a sudden U-turn in the Supreme Court. The CBI, dismissing its early decision on Dayanidhi Maran, said that they will not give clean chit to the former Textile Minister over 2G spectrum scam.

CBI informed the Supreme Court that investigation on Maran is still on as the tainted former textile minister's role has come under more suspicion over a deal in Malaysia.

Earlier prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan had moved the apex court and filed a plea against the CBI accusing the investigating agency of not conducting proper investigation into the 2G scam.

Bhushan's main criticism against the CBI came when they allocated "clean chit" to the DMK MP. Here it can be recalled that they had not found any coercion in granting 2G licenses in Aircel-Maxis deal issued by Maran. [Read: Who is Dayanidhi Maran?]

Maran allegedly forced C Sivasankaran, owner of Aircel, to sell the telecom company to Maran's Malaysia-based friend T Ananda Krishnan in 2006. The reports added that Maran, during his tenure as a Communication Minister in UPA I government, issued spectrum licenses to Astro, a sister company of Maxis, soon after it purchased stake in Sun TV, which is owned by Maran's brother Kalanidhi Maran and family.

Maran, the former textile minister and DMK MP, was forced to submit his resignation after he was accused in the second telecom spectrum scam which cost the nation a loss of whopping Rs 1.76 lakh crore.